You wait for things to blow up in the next two days.
You are making tea this morning in the tea room. A young eunuch who serves the Emperor runs inside with a face full of fear.
Little Eunuch: You better be careful today. His Majesty was furious at the meeting, way worse than before.
People in the tea room get tense right away, and ask him what happened.
Little Eunuch: Don't ask! I'm just here to remind you to be aware of your own lives!
The young eunuch leaves quickly after leaving those words and the people in panic.
Xiu Ying: (Seems like the Emperor is angry indeed. Even the eunuch is here to remind us in such a rush. Probably the evidence has been presented.)
The Emperor looks gloomy, and everyone at the Hall of Mental Cultivation is too scared even to breathe.
Looks of anticipation fall onto you. But under this circumstance, should you do anything?
You think things over a bit. You bring over the tea, then tell a few folk tales about filial piety.
Emperor: [Stares at you] Do you know what happened?
Xiu Ying: [Shakes head] I don't. I just hear Your Majesty scolding the Crown Prince a bit, so I guesses that he made you angry.
Emperor: [Mumbles] Yeah. Treason. Betrayal. I'm disappointed.
The Emperor is livid. He ordered for the Crown Prince's house arrest at Eastern Palace. He might be deposed when the investigation is finished. Before you can get happy though, you notice something off.
In the last life, the Crown Prince cried outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation for whole stormy night begging for forgiveness. The Emperor was almost too shaken to take back his order.
Xiu Ying: (There's no way the Crown Prince wouldn't beg for forgiveness, judging from his character.)
Your fears become true. The next day, news of the Crown Prince being framed comes to you.
Xiu Ying: Wasn't there enough proof?
Shi Lian: I heard from Shu Xian that all the evidence has been refuted. No idea what happened exactly in between though.
You feel tense. You want to go to Eunuch Gui and arrange to meet with Yin Zhen. After taking a few steps, you see Yin Zhen walking towards you with a playful smile.
Yin Zhen: Looking for me?
He extend his hand and feels your hair.
Xiu Ying: Are you all right?
Yin Zhen: [Softly] You were smart. If I handed the evidence in myself, I wouldn't be here to play with your hair any more.
You are too shaken to even care about your hair being messed up.
Yin Zhen: Don't worry. I asked the Three State Counsellors to present the evidence. Their weight on the court needs no further explanation. Even if the evidence is refuted, no one would be harmed.
Xiu Ying: We underestimated the Crown Prince. Even in the face of hard evidence, he still managed to turn it around.
Yin Zhen: His capabilities and especially his advisors are exceptional. Those are what allowed him to stay as the Crown Prince for so many years, not just the love from Father.
Xiu Ying: The reason for this failure is their preparation.
Yin Zhen: Yeah. Otherwise there's no way they'd turn it around so quickly.
Xiu Ying: Damn it. So that's it then?
Yin Zhen: Fret not. I'm still here.
Yin Zhen has a faint smile. You calm down as you look at him.
Yin Zhen: I'm most worried about you being involved though... How about we stop seeing each other for the time being, in case you get caught up in it.
Anger and devastation won't solve any problems. You need to calm down to strike again later.
YOU ARE READING
LoT Phoenix 1
RandomThis is not my story. Post it here from a game for offline reading. PS: I wish they will make a drama out of this.
